(Newsweek) – A series of earthquakes that shook Southern California earlier this year may have increased stress on parts of a major dormant fault line which has not produced any significant activity since records began, according to a study.
Scientists from the University of Iowa examined the so-called Ridgecrest earthquakes, which began with a 6.4 magnitude foreshock in the Mojave Desert on July 4, followed the next day by a 7.1 magnitude quake—the largest in Southern California for two decades. In addition, more than 100,000 smaller aftershocks were recorded. By analyzing satellite imagery and data collected by seismic instruments, the
researchers were able to work out how this series of earthquakes affected the Garlock Fault—which stretches east to west for 185 miles from the infamous San Andreas Fault to Death Valley. This fault appears to be lying dormant given that it has not produced a major earthquake for at least a century—when scientists first began measuring seismic activity in the area. Nevertheless, experts say that it still poses an earthquake risk to Southern California. READ MORE
